Has anyone got anything good or bad to say about a tire changer like this? There's some youtube videos of a similar product that harbor freight used to sell, but no longer offers.

I know its not a commercial grade unit, but do you reckon it would allow a fellow to mount his own tires and then only visit the tire shop for balance ?

Price is $56.99 with FREE SHIPPING. (all orders over $50).

http://www.homier.com/speedway-serie...e-changer.html


Homier used to come around here in a weekend tool show. I've bought a bunch of cheap crap from him in the past, some lasted ok, some didn't, most did. I'm trying to decide if this would pay off, or just be waste of $57.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1joJ8...ext=1&index=18

 

It works, but it is a PITA. For large truck tires it isn't as bad because you have a lot of side wall. I wouldn't try it on a low profile tire. The biggest draw back is the design. You will scratch the hell out of your wheels with it. You would have to change a few sets before you could recover your money, and you still have to take it to a shop to get them balanced unless you use beads or something else. I would put the $50 toward beer and drink a cold one watching someone else work.

 

I disagree. I have one. Well not that new. I found it in my grandpas barn when I was a kid and I have changed alot of tires on it. I will agree its a pita till you get used to it and you may scratch rims but you need to practice and you wont have any problems. Get a few old rims n tires n take em off n put em on a few times. Also agree not the best for low pro's I changed the 17 low pro's on my eclipse last summer and it wasn't fun but once you get the hang of it you'll be changeing tires like a pro. I just put four new tires on my dads truck in less than a half hour. I rarely take tires to be balanced either. I don't see it completly necessary. I love mine and it gets alot of use. But depends on the practicality of it for you.

 

not balancing your tires is going to wear out the bearings faster. the added stress of shaking and uneven balance will also add to uneven ware too. plus with vibrations and higher speeds could also lead to the wearing of other steering and suspension parts. but the home on works i did several tires on those styles and the hardest thing is the low pro's for sure. idk is it worth have the space taken up and 60 buck is not going to get much use that way. besides the right way would be to buy your tires which sould come with free mounting. get the lifetime road hazard with rotate and balance. you can check your **** every oil change. reap the payback for the minimal cost(10-15% of tire cost) of first time. if you want a smooth ride while going fast and safety. go to the shop and way out the cost of it. if your doing four wheeler, lawn mower, and snowblower tires then it may be worth it(anything unbalanced).

 

i looking at it as how to spend the least amount of money. i can buy tires over the internet with no tax and maybe? free shipping. when i try to take these tires to a shop for mounting and balancing, then they get financial revenge and i lose any savings. if i can mount them myself, dispose of old tires myself locally, and then go to walmart for a one-time balance for $20, then i feel like i've lowered my cost.

at 7%, sales tax alone on a $1000 set of tires is $70, enough to pay for the tire changer and new valve stems.

don't get sidetracked on balance or not balanced. i'm going to take them to walmart for balance. the kids over there actually do a really good job of balance for $20/set. i'm also going to rotate my own tires, so i'm not going to use all that lifetime rotation stuff.

installation and balance and tire disposal and sales tax is all adding $100-150 to the cost

 

You could always dispose of them yourself...







Just kidding, that's bad for your lungs.

 

Thats why you stand upwind of the fire, not in the smoke wondering why you cant breathe

and this looks like a good idea I would say its worth it if it gets used once or twice a year plus you will have friends coming over to use it.

Good thing I dont have to worry about dealing with mounting and balancing just put the tires in the bed and give my keys to my neighbor, and the truck comes back done and it costs me a bottle of rum

 

They have one at tractor supply http://www.tractorsupply.com/vehicle...hanger-1000142

And if you're worried about scratching up the rims then you could get a tire spoon or just weld a solid chunk of steel to the end of a 3' pipe and smooth it out with a grinder.

http://www.tractorsupply.com/vehicle...wrench-0116893

 

looks like a pretty cool setup. alot better than a couple tire irons i have used in the past at times. lol

 

I remember when those were state of the art. The tire specialty shops were the only ones that had them.